Pennsylvania holds together more American history and culture than almost any state its size. In this episode of Exploring America State by State, we explore the Keystone State from the birthplace of American independence in Philadelphia to the steel-city skyline of Pittsburgh, with rolling Amish farmland and an entire chocolate empire in between.

We drive the northern stretch of Route 6 past the Pine Creek Gorge (the "Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania"), wind the historic Lincoln Highway through farm country, and climb through the Laurel Highlands to Fallingwater. We stand where the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall sit steps apart, walk the Gettysburg battlefield, and take in Pittsburgh's three-rivers skyline from the Duquesne Incline. Of course, we spend real time in Hershey — the amusement park, Chocolate World, and a special stop for RV travelers: America's Largest RV Show, held every September right in town.

We also flag the tourist traps around Philly's cheesesteak rivalry and Gettysburg's ghost tours, cover RV travel logistics through the Poconos and Allegheny Plateau, the best free and paid RV camping at Allegheny National Forest and Hershey RV Resort, where to stay from the grand Hotel Hershey to quiet Amish country inns, getting around by SEPTA and Amtrak's Keystone Corridor, and the food that defines the state — Philly cheesesteaks, soft pretzels, whoopie pies, and Pittsburgh's famous fries-in-the-sandwich Primanti Bros creation.

Plus: summer travel tips, honest budget expectations, and cell coverage advice for the deep forest regions.

Next stop: Maryland, where Chesapeake Bay blue crabs, historic harbor towns, and rolling horse country all fit inside one surprisingly compact stretch of coastline.

• (00:00:00) - Introducing Pennsylvania

New Jersey gets teased more than almost any state in the country — and it doesn't deserve most of it. In this episode of Exploring America State by State, we cross into the Garden State and find exactly what the nickname promises: rolling farmland, over a million acres of pine forest, and 130 miles of legendary shoreline.

We drive the Garden State Parkway past beach town after beach town, cut through the quiet, sandy Pine Barrens on Route 206, and wind through the Delaware Water Gap before landing in the gas-lit Victorian streets of Cape May. Along the way we uncover the Great Falls hidden inside Paterson, ironworking history at Batsto Village, and skyline views of Lady Liberty from Liberty State Park — no New York City price tag required.

We also flag the tourist traps around Atlantic City's casinos and Wildwood's boardwalk games, cover RV travel logistics and the best free and paid RV camping in Wharton and Worthington State Forests, where to stay from casino resorts to Cape May's Victorian inns and Wildwood's retro doo-wop motels, getting around by NJ Transit and PATH, and the food that makes the state a serious contender — pork roll egg and cheese, boardwalk funnel cake, and the famous Jersey tomato.

Plus: summer beach season tips, honest budget expectations, and cell coverage advice for the deep Pine Barrens.

Next stop: Pennsylvania, a state of rolling Amish countryside, Revolutionary War history, and one of the most important cities in the founding of America.

• (00:00:00) - New Jersey

New York is so much more than one city — it's a whole state with two completely different rhythms. In this episode of Exploring America State by State, we cover both: the electric pulse of Manhattan and the wide-open, slower landscape that surrounds it for hundreds of miles.

We drive the Taconic Parkway and Hudson Highlands, uncover hidden gems like Letchworth State Park (the "Grand Canyon of the East") and Watkins Glen's nineteen waterfalls, and stand at the roaring edge of Niagara Falls. In the city, we hit Times Square, Central Park, the Empire State Building, and walk the Brooklyn Bridge, then take the ferry out to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island before a solemn stop at the 9/11 Memorial. Of course, no New York episode is complete without a real slice of pizza and a proper New York cheesecake.

We also cover the tourist traps to avoid, RV travel logistics (spoiler: leave the rig outside Manhattan), free and paid RV camping in the Adirondacks and at Letchworth, where to stay from Brooklyn boutique hotels to Niagara resorts, getting around by subway and the free Staten Island Ferry, unique experiences like Broadway and Finger Lakes wine tasting, summer travel tips, honest budget expectations, and cell coverage advice for the backcountry.

Next stop: New Jersey, a state full of hidden beaches, historic small towns, and a personality far bigger than its size would suggest.

• (00:00:00) - Exploring America: New York
• (00:01:19) - Introducing New York's natural wonders
• (00:04:45) - Visit Manhattan
• (00:07:28) - Introducing New York City & the Finger Lakes